35th Overall Antti Tuomisto, Defence

[Bench]

If they are good. If we can't fix his skating that dude is Nolan Yonkman

Boy, there's a callback reference.

 

[Jussi]

Played a lot with Kivenmäki, so they've been watching him closely for 2 years.

I had him as a 3rd round target, but they clearly like him a lot. Big raw RHD project who likes to carry the puck and shoot. Good offensive tools, defense needs work. Apparently he'll play another year for Ässät U20 and then head to college. I would rather see him jump up in competition, so either go direct to college, head to the USHL or skip college and go to Liiga?

Antti Tuomisto | FinnProspects.com

I would assume that he'll have to have certain academic requirements met if he wants to play in college and he might have one year left of lukio (Finnish highschool for those not familiar) and he'll have to complete that before being eligible. Tolvanen had issues with those academic requirements and went to KHL instead.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Boy, there's a callback reference.

Sort of mean considering I hung out with the guy back in the day. He also had a knee issue early in his career. But a talented second round big man that just couldn't make adjustments to escape the AHL consistently.

 

[Bench]

Sort of mean considering I hung out with the guy back in the day. He also had a knee issue early in his career. But a talented second round big man that just couldn't make adjustments to escape the AHL consistently.

I hear you. I just loved you were going back to a guy from the 1999 draft who played 70 NHL games.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I hear you. I just loved you were going back to a guy from the 1999 draft who played 70 NHL games.

I think we all know my hockey addiction can be kind of a problem.

I joined a group of like minded people on the internet for support.

 

[Gniwder]

I think we all know my hockey addiction can be kind of a problem.

I joined a group of like minded people on the internet for support.

Was gonna ask if you're a Caps fan. I remember he was constantly injured, but he couldn't stick on a Caps team with an AHL D roster (Muir, Majewsky, Biron, Eminger & Clymer) plus a 19 YO Mike Green. Green wound up full time the next season...

(God that D lineup is actually worse than Detroit's current D, lol)

 

[Syckle78]

Skating is a problem from what I remember when I have seen him.

For people that hated the 2017 draft this pick reminds me of that years logic.

Damn it bad skating is such a buzzkill.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Damn it bad skating is such a buzzkill.

He has some tools, I just didn't think it was great. Maybe they have heard about gains. Big guys develop slower.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Putting big faith in the Euro scouting contingency, I guess.

If Haken is the guy making these draft picks then I have faith. I'd prefer that TBH over only giving him picks in the 4th rounds or later. I know nothing about the kid, I just think Haken is our best talent evaluator and it's not really close.

 

[Gniwder]

If Haken is the guy making these draft picks then I have faith. I'd prefer that TBH over only giving him picks in the 4th rounds or later. I know nothing about the kid, I just think Haken is our best talent evaluator and it's not really close.

Appears that Stevie agrees with you.

No picks from Canadian juniors which is mind boggling.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Appears that Stevie agrees with you.

No picks from Canadian juniors which is mind boggling.

I wonder what that says about Yzerman's view of those scouts. It may mean nothing or it could signal that changes will be made once the dust settles on this draft.

 

[Gniwder]

I wonder what that says about Yzerman's view of those scouts. It may mean nothing or it could signal that changes will be made once the dust settles on this draft.

It shows a lack of confidence or trust in NA scouts, I am expecting changes at this point. Steve and Verbeek are both Canadians, it's not like they have a natural bias towards Euros.

 

[Syckle78]

He has some tools, I just didn't think it was great. Maybe they have heard about gains. Big guys develop slower.

Better or worse skater than XO?XO broke my heart.

 

[Claypool]

It shows a lack of confidence or trust in NA scouts, I am expecting changes at this point. Steve and Verbeek are both Canadians, it's not like they have a natural bias towards Euros.

Hilarious how much you people read into things.

 

[Henkka]

Better or worse skater than XO?XO broke my heart.

It's quite different to have 6'0 Xavier Ouellet with his skating than 6'5 "Xavier Ouellet" with Ouellet's skating.

The big guy's reach saves so much if you aren't that great skater.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Better or worse skater than XO?XO broke my heart.

At this point in their arcs, a little better than XO, especially considering his size.

 

[Gniwder]

Hilarious how much you people read into things.

7 picks and not a single on from Canadian juniors. You think that's just a coincidence?

Mark this post buddy, I bet there will be changes to the NA scouting staff.

 

[Syckle78]

It's quite different to have 6'0 Xavier Ouellet with his skating than 6'5 "Xavier Ouellet" with Ouellet's skating.

The big guy's reach saves so much if you aren't that great skater.

Don't care how good your reach is slow defenseman will be a liability especially down the road and don't age as well as the average defenseman. We're not talking chara wingspan here.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

Damn it bad skating is such a buzzkill.

Most scouts are highlighting his skating as a strength, for what it's worth.

 

[Henkka]

7 picks and not a single on from Canadian juniors. You think that's just a coincidence?

Mark this post buddy, I bet there will be changes to the NA scouting staff.

It just sucks that you have those rights only for 2 years.

Targetting College and Europe is 10 x better, when you have the rights for 4 years.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Hilarious how much you people read into things.

We took a centerman. I think this shows Yzerman has no confidence in Larkin and is looking for an upgrade.

Looks like Yzerman took a bathroom break in the 4th round. Stomach problems? Should we be concerned?

 

[Syckle78]

Most scouts are highlighting his skating as a strength, for what it's worth.

Well that's reassuring. Love the pick if that's the case. Stack that D baby!

 

[Gniwder]

It just sucks that you have those rights only for 2 years.

Targetting College and Europe is 10 x better, when you have the rights for 4 years.

That's not true at all. More college and Euro players go unsigned than kids from juniors. Carolina barely managed to trade Fox before their rights expired. There's less incentive to quit college to play in the AHL or leave Europe to play in the AHL, whereas kids in juniors don't have much of a choice.

 

[Gniwder]

We took a centerman. I think this shows Yzerman has no confidence in Larkin and is looking for an upgrade.

Looks like Yzerman took a bathroom break in the 4th round. Stomach problems? Should we be concerned?

Mock me all you want, We'll revisit this later this summer when Stevie makes changes.

I've never seen a team not pick anyone from Canadian juniors.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Mock me all you want, We'll revisit this later this summer when Stevie makes changes.

I've never seen a team not pick anyone from Canadian juniors.

Not mocking you specifically, been lots of posts today about how every pick means something much more than simply the kid taken being what the Wings see as BPA.
I think looking outside the most scouted leagues in the world might be a smart plan.